Build First, Ask Later

Last week we presented the discussions of the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) whether there is a need for Chabad activities in Morocco – This week we present the “back room” discussions of the JDC offices in Europe and Morocco regarding the Chabad activities in Morocco which began without JDC support and then requested their support… * Part Two

Introduction: The standard deal between the JDC and the institutions that they sponsor are: the institutions need to raise a certain percentage of funds in the local city, and the rest will come from the JDC on condition that they do not fundraise in the USA independently, rather joining in the United Jewish Appeal (UJA).

The Rebbe’s personal emissary to Europe, Israel and North Africa, Rabbi Binyomin Gorodetsky, agreed to this deal, and did not fundraise in the USA for the Chabad activities in Europe and North Africa.

In Morocco, the Chabad plan was to create the institutions and present the JDC with fait accompli, functioning Mosdos, and then asking the JDC to sponsor part of the expenses. During the first years of Shlichus in Morocco, the local JDC directors struggled with the quick growth and expansion of Chabad across the country, and complained to the JDC headquarters about it.

This week we present communication between the JDC offices which describe the extent of the Chabad activities in Morocco, a mere nine months after the first Shliach arrived, and the discussions whether to support the Chabad work in Morocco or not. These documents are preserved in the JDC Archives (digitized and uploaded online, thanks to a grant from Dr. Georgette Bennett and Dr. Leonard Polonsky CBE).

On March 12th, 1951, Mr. William Bein (JDC – Morocco) sent a “preliminary report” on the activities of Chabad in Morocco, and Rabbi Gorodetsky’s request for JDC sponsorship of the program, to Mr. Judah Shapiro (JDC – Paris):

This is a preliminary report on the visit of Rabbi Gorodetzki. You will recall that I mentioned to you that sometime ago his organisation sent here Rabbi Lipsker who established a Yeshiva in Meknes with 65 students, all of whom eat in their canteen and 30 of whom are interns (sleeping and eating here)… They have another so called Yeshivah in Midelt with 130 students…

He told me of his discussions with Mr. Shalom [head of “Ozar HaTorah”] and his intention to send here 3 rabbis; but Mr. Shalom declining to pay the salaries of these rabbis, they themselves decided to develop Chinuch in Morocco, this upon the wish of the late Rabbi Schneerson. Therefore he brought with him 2 more people, 1 Rabbi Matusof, and told us they had the intention to develop their activities in the small towns and will endeavour to teach and develop Melamdim and Shochtim…

He came to me to discuss this matter and referring to the continuous close cooperation with JDC asked that we should appropriate a certain sum toward their past and current expenditures…

It is undeniable that there is here in Morocco a great need for teachers and with due respect to the high integrity of the Lubawitzer, I am reluctant to undertake anything which later may turn out to be a boomerang.

Three days later, on March 15th, 1951, Mr. Judah Shapiro (JDC – Paris) responds to Mr. William Bein, describing the modus operandi of Chabad: Build First – Ask Later, and explaining his view on Chabad:

Your letter presenting your discussions with Rabbi Gorodetzki and his request from AJDC for his program of religious education, is extremely interesting.

I had known some time ago that Rabbi Gorodetzki has begun to do some work in Meknes. I realized then that his technique was to begin an activity and at a later date make a request to AJDC for support. I therefore told him that time, that as far as we in AJDC were concerned, we regarded our responsibility as fully discharged in the field of religious education in Morocco by our support of the Ozar Hatorah program. I pointed out to him that we recognized the limitations of the Ozar Hatorah program and it might very well be that members of his group could act as teachers within the Ozar Hatorah system, but that in such case he would have to work out his relationship with Ozar Hatorah. I told him that we would not consider an additional subvention for religious education to any other group but the Ozar Hatorah…

Your letter shows that Rabbi Gorodetzki proceeded, nevertheless, to develop a program completely outside the scope of that of Ozar Hatorah and is now presenting us with a request, despite our advance warning to him…

Having said all of the above, it is also necessary to point out that Rabbi Gorodetzki’s service is better than that which has been done by Ozar Hatorah until now. My position, therefore, is not in opposition to Rabbi Gorodetzki’s work, and I would myself regard an arrangement by AJDC with him, as far better than that with Ozar Hatorah…

On March 16th, 1951, Mr. William Bein (JDC – Morocco) wrote an additional letter to Mr. Judah Shapiro (JDC – Paris), describing an additional meeting with Rabbi Gorodetsky on the matter, and describing the “problem” that Chabad has too much influence on the JDC…

I explained Rabbi Gorodetzki that despite our high esteem for their devotion and integrity, it is an important policy problem whether or not, at this stage of the game, JDC should embark on subsidizing any new activities outside the sphere of the existing local organizations…

I further told him that there exists obviously much space for improvement in the field of Chinuch in Morocco and that at least a number of schools, Yeshiboth and particularly internats [boarding schools] could be established if the means for these would be available.

You, of course, understand best how difficult my situation is. It is an open secret that the Lubawitcher claim that they have certain “Hashpoa” upon JDC religious problems…

We here feel that they will develop a net of institutions in various communities which receive no aid in this respect from Ozar Hatorah or us, and [if] are willing and willing cooperate with them later on – they will submit the bill to JDC or, if [not] – they will not participate in the UJA, [and] will start a campaign based upon the existing institutions which JDC helped or did not help to establish in Morocco…

A few days later, on March 21, 1951, Mr. William Bein (JDC – Morocco) wrote an additional letter to Mr. Judah Shapiro (JDC – Paris), describing an additional meeting with Rabbi Gorodetsky on the matter, and his respect for Chabad activities:

Today I had again a conversation with Rabbi Gorodetzki. He came to talk to me about “Tachles”…

After a long conversation (you are of course informed that I know the Lubawitcher since 20 years or so, and in Russia as well as in Poland I was in close contact with them) he asked the following: That JDC should participate in their expenses in Morocco…

I told Rabbi Gorodetzki that JDC and myself have real esteem for their ability and integrity, but in my opinion their function should be to take active part in the teaching, but under no circumstances, should they create institutions and particularly internats [boarding schools] which are costy… I further told him that the best service they could render here is to see to it to reach an agreement with Ozar Hatorah and that their teachers should play an important role in the educational program of the new Talmud Torah…

I am hasting to send you this letter as Rabbi Gorodetzki will visit you in a day or so.

At this point the JDC was not ready to support the Chabad schools in Morocco, but Chabad nevertheless continued expanding, fundraising on their own, and hoping for a resolution.

Next week we will present some more discussions of the JDC offices, and show how Chabad managed to secure funding from the JDC.